Count Blessings, Not Calories

If you are reading this, you are likely on a personal endeavor to free up mental energy and learn how to stop counting calories.

You might be feeling a little bad and bloaty today. Perhaps desperate to impose a penance for your less-than-perfect eating yesterday, last week, or the past month or year. Listen up and remember that it is OK to eat all the foods and enjoy them – guilt-free.

Give yourself a break, forget what you ate/drank yesterday or what delicious food remains in your refrigerator. Feeling guilty about the fist fulls of chips you ate or the spoon hitting the bottom of the ice cream carton only compounds the stress and negative vibes you’re already feeling.

Don’t let this shame spiral send you into a feeding frenzy to eat up the rest of the chocolate truffles, so they’re “not there to tempt you tomorrow.” 🚨 NEWS FLASH: You can enjoy chocolates, pizza, and holiday foods any time of year! 🚫 Don’t allow food to rob you of any more mental stress. You have enough on your plate – theoretically speaking.​

Things to count besides calories

As enticing as it is to purge your pantry and fridge of all the “bad” foods – starting tomorrow, of course – I recognize that it can be even more tempting to “make up” for your food sins with a series of tasteless protein shakes and zero carbs – all tracked diligently in your favorite calorie-counting app. 🛑 STOP THIS!

So, if you are wondering how to stop counting calories and are desperate to count something {because I know and relate – it helps us control freaks have a number to fixate on} consider tallying the following.

Instead of calories, count…

• Colors on your plate 🌈
• Vegetable servings 🥗
• Daily steps 👣
• Fluid ounces 💧
• Minutes of reading 📚
• Hours of sleep 💤
• Your blessings 💙

Resorting to restriction makes you feel “in control” in the short term, but this behavior is bound to send you into the same downward spiral come Friday when your co-workers invite you out to vent about your stupid boss over happy hour cocktails, and you “blow it” again. Stop starting over and learn new strategies to improve your health and relationship with food.

If this sounds like a play-by-play of your internal dialogue, I challenge you to try something new and join the next session of LIFe TODAY! Yes, T-O-D-A-Y. Not tomorrow or the following Monday, or next month when things slow down. NOW. Because, hey – Life is not going to get easier or “slow down.” Sorry to break it to you, but every day is guaranteed to provide a series of excuses for not taking care of yourself.

Lose Weight, Gain Time

I have taken everything I have learned about weight management and nutrition and poured it into the LIFe program. I help women like you Lose It Forever—the weight – and the B$ too.

As a Registered Dietitian specializing in weight loss, I will be your filter. With LIFe, you will have a safe space with reliable nutrition tips and weight loss strategies that get you results. Everything you need is housed in a convenient mobile app – recipes, workouts, grocery lists, guides, chat support, and more!

Stop wasting your time sifting through bogus nutrition advice or searching for the “perfect” workout routine. I do that for you! This way, you can get back to worrying about who the hell is going to get the house halfway in order before your in-laws visit this weekend.

Let this be the last time you exchange your precious time and resources {i.e., hard-earned cash} for permanent results and sustainable strategies that will last you a LIFe-time.

To learn more about LIFe and see if it’s a good fit for you, e-mail me at [email protected] for a free 15-minute consult. I am happy to answer questions and ease any hesitations about trying to lose weight – again.

Words from the Wise

“Health is like money. We never have a true idea of its value until we lose it.”
​ – Josh Billings

This couldn’t be more true in today’s world and the ongoing challenges with the pandemic. We take so much for granted including our health, mobility, and abilities. When these privileges are limited or removed, we become upset, angry, unhappy, etc.

Take proactive measures to protect – and optimize – your health. I can teach you how. Whether it’s your weight, career, relationships, or finances, if you aren’t where you want to be, something must change. Things won’t change if you don’t change.

I know. Change is hard. Change is uncomfortable and starting is half the battle. Just do yourself a favor and start. You’ll get tripped up along the way, but it will become easier with time – I promise.

In health,

Kayla Girgen, RD, LD
​Registered Dietitian
​Digital Creator, LIFe app​
Blogger, Nutrition Untapped